Tent-supporting constructions



Feb. 4, 1969 A. SCHWARTZ I 3,425,428

TENT SUPPORTING CONSTRUCTIONS Filed May 31, 1967 \\x ///1/////////// ////////y// /I\ INVENTOR Her/we h/nwzrz /7 ATTORNEY United States Patent 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention concerns improved means for connecting the material of a tent to a supporting pole therefor, which includes a coupling element secured to and depending from the underside of the tent material and having a shank and an enlarged head at the lower end thereof, a pole having a side aperture adapted to laterally receive the coupling element, a member on the upper end of the pole having a slot communicating with the side aperture in the pole for receiving the shank of the coupling element but preventing passage of the enlarged head of the coupling element therethrough, and a retaining sleeve rotatably mounted on the pole and having an aperture opening through the upper end thereof and adapted to register with the side aperture and end slot in the pole in one position of rotation of the sleeve to permit the coupling element to be inserted in and withdrawn from the pole and in another position of rotation closing the side aperture in the pole to prevent disconnection of the coupling element from the pole.

The present invention relates to tent constructions and more particularly to improved means for connecting the tent material to the supporting pole or poles therefor.

Connecting means of the general type disclosed herein, which includes essentially a coupling element secured to the tent material and depends from the underside thereof for reception in the slotted upper end of the supporting pole, are known. One such connecting means or connector is shown in the Rogers patent No. 2,495,423. However, the Rogers construction is far from satisfactory in that it is very diflicult to orient the coupling element with respect to the pole to effect the desired connection therebetween, and furthermore no means are provided for preventing the unintentional disconnection of the coupling element from the supporting pole under adverse Weather conditions, such as high winds, and heavy snow and rain falls.

Therefore, the primary object of the instant invention is to provide means by which the connection between the tent material and the supporting pole therefor may 'be expeditiously effected.

Another object of the present invention is to provide connecting means between the tent material and the supporting pole which precludes unintentional disconnection of the former from the latter regardless of weather conditions.

A further object of the invention is to provide connecting means between the tent material and its supporting pole or poles which includes a coupling element that is laterally rockable and longitudinally movable in re spect to the pole to provide flexibility in the connecting means to prevent damage to the tent material under adverse weather conditions.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of the entire pole construction showing generally its interconnection with the tent material.

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FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing the connecting means, the tent material and the pole to which the material is connected.

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view, in partial cross-section along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view showing the pole and the connecting means just prior to interconnection of the tent material with the pole.

With continued reference to the drawing, the present invention relates to a tent constructed of flexible material 10, such as canvas, supported by a pole 12, and means generally designated by 14 in FIGURE 1 for connecting the tent material to the pole. As previously indicated, the instant invention is directed primarily to improved connecting means in the recited combination.

It will be understood that the type of pole employed may vary in construction but preferably it is constructed of cylindrical, metallic tubing and embodies a main or lower section 16 and an upper or extension section 18'. The main section 16 carries at its lower end a base plate 17, see FIGURE 1, having an aperture 17a therein adapted to receive an appropriate staking element for anchoring the base to the ground to maintain the pole in an upright position. As best shown in FIGURE 2, the upper or extension section 18 of the pole is of reduced diameter in comparison with that of the main pole section 16 which terminates at the upper edge 46. The section 18 is adapted to be snugly and telescopically received in the upper end of the main section. Rivets 20 or other suitable fastening elements serve to secure the upper section of the pole in place.

The improved connecting means is best shown over-all in FIGURES ,2 and 4 to which reference is now made. Such means includes a coupling element or pin generally designated 22 which is secured to the tent material and depends from the underside thereof. It has a shank portion 24 provided with an internally threaded longitudinal bore and enlarged head portion 26 at the lower end thereof. The coupling element is secured to the tent material 10 by a pair of washers 28 and 30, respectively disposed on the upper and lower sides of the tent material, and a bolt 32 provided with an enlarged head 34 engageable with the upper surface of the washer 28 and a threaded shank 36 which extends through the washers 28 and 30 and the tent material 10 and is threadedly received in the longitudinally threaded bore in the coupling element 22. As will be apparent, the coaction betwee the pin 22 and bolt 32 secures the tent material 10 between the washers 28 and 30.

The upper end of the pole extension 18 is provided with a disk-like portion or member 42, which, as clearly shown in FIGURE 2, projects laterally beyond the exterior surface of the pole section 18 to define an abutment 44 which overlies the upper end 46 of the main pole section 16 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The member 42 is also provided with a transverse slot 48, see FIGURES 3 and 4, which communicates with a side aperture 50 formed in the upper portion of the pole section 18. As best shown in FIGURE 3, the slot 48 in the end member 42 is adapted to receive the shank 24 of the coupling element 22 but is so sized as to prevent passage of the enlarged head 26 of the coupling element therethrough.

A retaining or locking sleeve 52, which constitutes an important feature of the present invention, is rotatably mounted on the upper pole section 18 between the abutment 44 and end 46, with which it has frictional engagement as well as the exterior surface of the pole section 18 to maintain the sleeve in adjusted position. An aperture 54, of substantially the same size and shape as the side aperture 50 in the pole section 18, is provided in the upper end of the sleeve 52 to permit passage of the shank 24 and head 26 of the coupling element 22 therethrough and the passage of the shank 24 into the end slot 48 when it is in registry with the side aperture 50 in the pole section 18. Since the coupling element 22 cannot move through the end slot in view of the presence of its enlarged head 26, it will be readily apparent that when the sleeve 52 is rotated to a position in which the aperture 54 therein is out of registry with the side aperture 50 in the pole section 18, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, the coupling element is securely held in operative connected relation with the pole.

From FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be appreciated that the coupling element 22 may partake of limited longitudinal and lateral rocking movements in respect to the supporting pole, thereby providing flexibility in the connection means, which serves to avoid damage to the tent material, particularly in the region of its connection with the supporting pole, under adverse weather conditions, such as high winds, and heavy snow and rain falls.

The simplicity of operation of the present invention is believed to be apparent from the foregoing description. However, in the interest of clarity and completetness, it will now be briefly set forth.

When it is desired to connect the tent material to the supporting pole, the retaining or locking sleeve 52 is rotated to a position in which its aperture 54 is in registry with the side aperture 50 in the pole section 18, as shown in FIGURE 4, which permits the lateral insertion of the coupling element 22 into the slot 48 in the end member of the pole, with its enlarged head 26 disposed therebelow. The retaining sleeve 52 is then rotated to its retaining or looking position in which the sleeve covers the side aperture 50 in the pole section 18. The sleeve 52 is maintained in this retaining or locking position by its frictional engagement with the exterior surface of the pole section 18 and the abutments 44 and 46. Thus, the inadequacies of the prior art have been overcome by the present invention.

While this invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, it will be understood that this embodiment is merely exemplary and that departures therefrom may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a tent of the type formed from a flexible material, at least one pole supporting said material, and means connecting the material to the upper end of said pole, the improvement wherein the means connecting the material to said pole comprises, in combination:

a coupling element secured to the tent material and depending from the underside thereof and having a shank portion and an enlarged head portion at the lower end thereof;

the upper end portion of said pole comprising a hollow cylindrical member having a side aperture shaped to permit passage of the shank and head portions of said coupling element therethrough and reception of the latter within said member;

a member on the upper end of said pole and having a laterally opening slot communicating with the side aperture in said pole for permitting passage of the shank portion of said coupling element thereinto, said slot being of a size to prevent passage of the head portion of said coupling element therethrough; and

a retaining sleeve rotatably mounted on the upper portion of said pole in frictional engagement therewith, said sleeve being provided with an aperture opening through the upper end thereof adapted to register with the pole side aperture and end slot in one position of rotation of said sleeve with respect to said pole to permit said coupling element to be inserted in and withdrawn from said pole, said sleeve in another position of rotation covering the side aperture in said pole to prevent disconnection of said coupling element from said pole, said coupling element being laterally rockable and longitudinally movable in respect to said pole to provide flexibility in the connecting means to prevent damage to the tent material in the region of its connection to said pole under adverse weather conditions, such as high winds, heavy snowfalls or rains.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 885,267 4/1908 Martel 24230.1 1,451,208 4/1923 Dunn 15 1,520,569 12/1924 Emerson 135l5 X 2,449,167 9/1948 Hopewell 241l6.l 2,495,423 1/1950 Rogers 135-15 3,184,196 5/1965 Dent 287-20.5 X

PETER M. CAUN, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 28720.5 

